Fishing reports
17101 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Surf bite holds strong on the Outer Banks as summer species stack up
Water at NOAA buoy 41025 off the Outer Banks is running warm at 86°F, with light winds under 10 mph keeping the surf line fishable into this week's Full Moon. On the Northern Beaches, Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle reports surf-zone anglers doing well on sea mullet, bluefish, and croakers on bottom rigs, and notes inshore action has finally picked up, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Down the coast at Cape Lookout and Swansboro/Emerald Isle, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel are showing on casting jigs and Gotcha plugs from the pier, per The Reel Outdoors in Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater, suggesting the coastwide baitfish push is building toward the Banks. Red drum typically stay active through early fall in this warm water. With the Full Moon driving stronger tidal swings, the bottom bite in the surf remains the most consistent play this week.
Wabash smallmouth hold deep as Midwest walleye chase suspended fish
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for the Wabash River or Lake Michigan this cycle, so today's outlook leans on typical late-August patterns and the broader regional angler intel that did post. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how Midwest walleye anglers work this time of year, with more fish found suspended away from traditional bottom structure rather than pinned to points and weedlines — worth testing on Lake Michigan's deeper water. On the Wabash, smallmouth bass typically slide to deeper current breaks as late-summer flows stay warm, and channel catfish feeding tends to shift toward after-dark hours. The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program is gearing up for its 2026 State of Lake Michigan Meeting this November, a reminder of the ongoing research attention the lake draws. With a full moon overhead this week, expect some added low-light feeding activity for catfish and walleye alike.
Full moon and late-summer heat set the pattern on Potomac, Patapsco
Direct reports from the Potomac and Patapsco weren't in today's feed, so this update leans on the broader late-summer pattern anglers across the mid-Atlantic are describing right now. Largemouth bass are running the typical August script — feeding shallow around grass edges at first and last light, then sliding to deeper cover once the sun climbs — and Tactical Bassin's recent breakdown of late-summer mistakes specifically warns against camping on last month's spots instead of following that shift. Blue and channel catfish should stay a reliable after-dark option; Wired 2 Fish just profiled a guide working Lake Gaston well into the evening during this same heat wave, a pattern that typically holds on Potomac tidal water too. Snakeheads remain a wildcard around thick vegetation on topwater frogs. Tonight's full moon should sharpen the overnight catfish bite and nudge bass activity earlier into the dawn window.
Light chop on Lake Superior as UP trout streams settle into late summer
NOAA buoy 45004 on Lake Superior clocked light 2 m/s winds, waves holding near 1.6 feet, and a cool 57°F air reading late this afternoon — calm, fishable water for anyone running the open lake off the Upper Peninsula. Water temperature wasn't reported at the buoy this cycle, so plan around morning coolness and afternoon warmth rather than a hard number. Direct UP-specific catch reports were thin heading into this update; the clearest regional signal comes from WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing, which notes lake whitefish has become a genuinely popular target in the neighboring Chequamegon Bay area — a trend worth watching as it can mirror activity across the basin. For UP trout streams, late-August flows typically favor early and late light, when brook trout and resident rainbows feed most actively before the seasonal shift toward fall staging. Under this week's full moon, expect stronger low-light bites and quieter midday water.
Ozark trout parks settle into a steady late-summer rhythm
No captains, shops, or state feeds filed direct reports from the Current or Niangua this cycle, so today's read leans on seasonal baseline rather than a live bite. Missouri's spring-fed trout parks — Bennett Spring on the Niangua and Montauk on the upper Current — typically hold cold, stable flows through late August even as much of the interior stays locked in a long, hot stretch this summer. That spring buffering keeps stocked rainbows feeding, but activity usually tightens into the cooler early-morning and dusk windows as surface water warms through midday. Expect standard park producers to keep working: small inline spinners, PowerBait fished off bottom, and nymphs under an indicator in the deeper spring runs. Naturally reproducing browns, where present, tend to go quiet and defensive this time of year and respond best to low-light presentations. Tonight's full moon may nudge some of that feeding window earlier before dawn and later after dark. Verify current stocking and dam-generation schedules before you go.
CT bass bite holds strong through the summer-to-fall transition
Connecticut's inland lakes and rivers are sliding through the classic late-August lull, and neighboring New England freshwater reports give the clearest read on what's likely happening here too. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater this week, smallmouth bass in nearby waters are still eating topwater like Jitterbugs in the early morning and late evening, while largemouth are holding on Senkos and soft plastics around cover — patterns that typically translate across CT's lakes and ponds this time of year. Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage warns this is exactly the stretch where anglers who slow down and lean on "spots that worked before" start missing fish, and recommends tracking bait movement and structure instead. We don't have a direct in-state CT report or gauge reading for this cycle, so treat today's outlook as regionally-informed rather than confirmed on Connecticut water. Tonight's full moon should sharpen low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Taneycomo trout turn aggressive as guides dial in the afternoon bite
Trout on Lake Taneycomo have turned notably aggressive, hitting hard with "no pecking around," according to Lilleys Landing's most recent report. The Taneycomo shop notes its trophy release program has picked back up after a slow spring, with guides finding their best action in the afternoons on the Provo rig. A simpler approach has also been producing: a straight-line drift with a weight on bottom and a drop-shot loop set about 18 inches up, tied with Vanish fluorocarbon tippet — a trick the shop credits to guide Blake Wilson. That's a real turnaround from July, when Lilleys Landing described heavy generation and afternoon/evening flows making fishing tough, especially from the bank or dock, after a genuinely fickle June driven by an inconsistent power-release schedule. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so confirm today's generation schedule and flow stage locally, and lean toward trout tactics over bass patterns on Taneycomo this time of year.
Chickamauga and Watts Bar bass slide into fall-transition mode
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for the Chickamauga-Watts Bar stretch of the Tennessee River this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal late-August patterns rather than a live number. No charter, shop, or state-agency reports specific to this stretch surfaced in today's intel sweep either, so the species status below reflects typical late-summer behavior rather than a direct local report — worth knowing before you plan around it. Elsewhere, bass anglers are already working a fall-transition playbook: Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes point anglers toward deep ledges and points holding fish that have slid off summer haunts, with buzzbaits starting to produce as the season turns toward early fall. Catfish tend to stay most active after dark through the tail end of summer heat, a pattern Wired 2 Fish's anglers elsewhere have leaned on this month. With tonight's full moon, expect a stronger overnight bite for both species as baitfish activity peaks.
Late-summer heat pushes catfish bite after dark on the Platte and Missouri
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings feeding this update, we're leaning on national angler trends and typical late-August patterns for the Platte and Missouri systems. Wired 2 Fish's report on a 108-pound blue catfish caught after dark during a regional heat wave underscores what's playing out broadly this month: catfish are sliding into a nocturnal pattern as daytime water temperatures stay elevated, and that shift typically holds for channel and blue cats here too. On the walleye side, Fishing the Midwest notes anglers increasingly leaning on Forward-Facing Sonar to find fish suspended off bottom rather than assuming they're glued to structure — worth trying if standard bottom rigs have gone quiet. White bass should still be schooling on baitfish in open water through early fall, typical for this stretch of the calendar. No angler reports specific to the Platte or Missouri came through this cycle, so treat the species rundown below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed local bite.
Lanier and Allatoona bass slide deep as August heat holds
Georgia Outdoor News' recent recap calls this stretch "one of the most brutal heatwave summers" the state has seen, and that heat is exactly what's dictating patterns on Lake Lanier and Allatoona right now. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for either reservoir this cycle, so treat water temps as typical late-August highs until hard numbers are in. Tactical Bassin's late-summer tips point to working shallow points early with topwater and a finesse jig before the sun climbs, then sliding to deeper structure as the day heats up — advice that tracks well for both Lanier's spotted bass and Allatoona's largemouth. Field & Stream's recent gear coverage also flags urchin-style soft plastics as a strong producer for bass right now, worth trying on either lake. Lanier's striper population is likely holding deep on the thermocline in this heat, though no local report confirmed activity this week. Crappie typically go quiet in peak late-August warmth.
Blue cats feed hard after dark as August heat holds on the Roanoke
A 108-pound blue catfish came aboard guide Zakk Royce's boat on Lake Gaston after dark on August 19th, per Wired 2 Fish — a sign the Roanoke system's big cats are still feeding hard even with this month's heat wave keeping water warm and sluggish. Royce ran up-lake to intercept water being released from the dam and connected with the giant well after sunset before releasing it. On the Catawba side, largemouth are settling into a classic late-summer pattern: Tactical Bassin points anglers toward shallow points and topwater at first light, sliding to finesse jigs and deeper cover once the sun climbs. Striped bass and crappie on these NC reservoirs typically pull deep and go quiet through late-August heat, holding near structure until nights cool and the first real front stirs them back into feeding mode. No live gauge or buoy readings came through for Catawba or Roanoke this cycle, so check your own temp and flow before running far.
Central Mass Bass Fire Up at Wachusett and Local Ponds
Bill Alando's 12-year-old grandson landed a 5-pound smallmouth bass on his third cast with a jig at Wachusett Reservoir this week, and Bill followed up with a 4-plus-pound bass of his own on a topwater lure — per Jerry's Bait and Tackle in Milford, reporting through The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. The same report had a youngster named Logan popping a 5-pound largemouth on a shiner from shore, likely at Louisa Lake, while other local anglers picked up panfish and bullheads at area ponds. Central Mass bass are clearly still eating well into late August, with jigs and topwater both drawing solid strikes from morning into evening. Farther north, the same feed notes Merrimack River smallmouth action remains excellent from Lowell to Lawrence, suggesting the aggressive bite extends across reservoir and river systems in the wider region right now. No fresh water-temp or flow readings came through for this cycle — check conditions locally before heading out, and plan around dawn and dusk with tonight's Full Moon likely sharpening those low-light feeding windows.
Late-summer heat pushes Eastern WA trout deep, bass hold steady
No fresh buoy or stream-gauge readings came through for the Yakima and Spokane-area waters this cycle, so this update leans on general late-August patterns for Eastern Washington rather than a specific numeric reading. WDFW's statewide creel and catch reporting program, referenced via WA WDFW Fishing Reports, tracks angler success and fish-stocking activity across the state's lakes and rivers, though no region-specific figures were available today. Typical for this point in summer, shallow water warms through the afternoon and fish tend to slide toward deeper holes, current seams, or shaded structure during the heat of the day. Rainbow trout on Yakima-system water generally fish best in low-light morning and evening windows once surface temps climb this high. Smallmouth bass in Columbia Basin impoundments usually stay aggressive through the heat. Kokanee typically slow down as reservoirs stratify late in the season. With a full moon tonight, expect a livelier overnight bite and a quieter midday than usual — verify current regulations and access before heading out.
Missouri River Walleye and Black Hills Trout Settle Into Late-Summer Patterns
A full moon lit the sky over the Missouri River and Black Hills on August 26, marking the seasonal hinge point when late-summer patterns start giving way to the early fall bite. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this stretch today, and this week's regional intel pull didn't turn up any direct reports from South Dakota guides, shops, or the state agency, so this update draws on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh field accounts. Typical for this window, Missouri River walleye should be sliding off summer humps toward deeper current breaks and main-lake structure as surface water stays warm through the day. Black Hills stream and reservoir trout tend to fish tougher through late-summer heat, with the best windows concentrated at dawn and dusk when water is coolest. We'll keep watching for fresh regional reports as the transition into September accelerates.
Catfish action holds strong on Texas reservoirs into late August
Blue and channel catfish remain the most reliable bite across North Texas reservoirs, with North Texas Catfish Guide reporting steady limits — including multiple fish over 30 pounds in past trips — on Eagle Mountain Lake whenever fresh water pushes into the system and lake levels rise, conditions the guide consistently ties to active, feeding fish. White bass have also shown up in numbers on the main lake in the same outfit's summer reports, running alongside the catfish bite. Largemouth bass are tougher this time of year: per Tactical Bassin's hot-August guidance, the pattern is shallow points early on topwater before the sun climbs, then a switch to a finesse jig as the day heats up. With a full moon overhead and late summer sliding toward fall, Tactical Bassin also warns against leaning on spots that worked earlier in the season instead of adjusting with the transition. Inflow and lake level remain the biggest swing factors on catfish activity across Texas reservoirs right now.
Gag and Amberjack Season Nears as MS Sound Reds Keep Tailing
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources confirmed this week that recreational Gag Grouper and Greater Amberjack seasons open in Mississippi territorial waters at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2026, per MS DMR — Gag running through October 1 and Amberjack through October 14. That's the headline for Sound anglers gearing up for reef trips as summer winds down. Inshore, the pattern stays typical for late August: redfish tailing in the grass on calm mornings, a technique Salt Strong (articles) highlights for picking apart pressured, clear water, with flounder still workable around channels and cuts per the same source. The last recorded reading from buoy 42067 showed light wind near 7 m/s and warm air close to 81°F, consistent with a stable late-summer stretch on the Sound. With the Full Moon pushing bigger tidal swings this week, expect current-driven feeding windows both inshore and, once the reef season opens, offshore. Check state regs before harvesting reef species.
Erie's Western Basin walleye shift deep as anglers dial in FFS
Wired 2 Fish's recent feature on Lake Erie's Western Basin captures why anglers keep grinding it out this time of year — one angler described fighting a stubborn fish through 38 feet of water alongside veteran guide Joe Fonzi, the kind of open-water battle that defines late-August fishing here. Technique is shifting too: Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes Forward-Facing Sonar has changed where walleye anglers look, pulling many away from the old bottom-and-structure playbook (points, turns, weedlines) toward suspended fish located via FFS, even as jigging live bait, pulling crawler harnesses, and crankbait trolling still produce. No live buoy or gauge readings came in for the Western Basin today, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed hot bite. Smallmouth bass and yellow perch remain part of the multi-species mix that keeps this basin one of the country's standout fisheries through late summer.
Delaware River Smallmouth Improve as Pine Barrens Bass Hold Steady
Weedless-rigged plastics are drawing largemouth out of the vegetation on Lake Nockamixon this week, and Dave's Sport Shop notes Delaware River smallmouth fishing is improving heading toward September, per this week's Fisherman NJ/DE Freshwater column. Elsewhere in the same report, Smith's Bait Shop describes good topwater action for largemouth and snakeheads around vegetation in area ponds, with early perch and panfish already showing in the spillways at Garrisons Lake, Massey Mills, and Silver Lake. Lake Wallenpaupack continues turning out smallmouth and largemouth, according to Hyper Striper Sportfishing, while Allen's Dock calls the bass bite picky but fair and notes pickerel taking killies in the Pine Barrens' cedar-stained waters. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as general knowledge until updated data arrives. With a full moon overhead, expect the best feeding windows to cluster around dawn, dusk, and overnight low light.
Sea Bass Bite Stays Hot as Jersey Shore Fluke Turns Picky
Sea bass are stealing the show up and down the Jersey Shore this week. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reports "every drop was loaded" with sea bass on recent trips, while fluke has been stingy — mostly shorts with an odd keeper mixed in. Offshore, Blue Chip Sportfishing says shark fishing has "busted wide open," with a Friday trip landing three nice mako sharks that were released, alongside steady mahi around the lobster pots. Fishermans HQ LBI is finding 25-40 lb bluefin tuna within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on trolled and live-bait spreads, with sand eels, spearing, mullet and peanut bunker stacking up near the inlet. Grumpys Tackle notes warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix, best worked with epoxy jigs. Northern NJ boats, per The Fisherman, are already eyeing the switch to striped bass once fluke season closes out.
Moosehead's landlocked salmon and togue go deep under this week's full moon
This week's full moon over Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot arrives during the thick of late-August heat, a stretch when landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) typically push into deeper, cooler water and become a dawn-and-dusk, deep-jigging or downrigger game rather than a surface bite. No direct Moosehead-specific report turned up in the shop, charter, or state-agency feeds this cycle — Maine Sea Grant's latest posts covered oyster restoration and coastal programming rather than lake conditions, so what follows leans on typical late-summer patterns for the region rather than a fresh bite report. Smallmouth bass, which hold up better in warm water than salmonids, are usually the more reliable target through this stretch, working rocky points and weed edges. Brook trout fishing tends to taper with warming shallows and is best served early or in spring-fed, faster water. Check current Maine fishing regulations before harvesting.
Bonito bite heats up in Narragansett Bay as albies loom
Green bonito are thick around Narragansett Bay's south county beaches and the harbor of refuge this week, with fish keying on larger forage like sand eels and herring that's actually made them easier to fool than earlier in the season, according to Snug Harbor Marina and The Saltwater Edge, both via The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) says the fall run is officially kicking off, with bonito and a few Spanish mackerel already showing and false albacore expected any day. Striped bass fishing has been sluggish, slowed by lingering warm water and shark pressure per The Saltwater Edge, though the fall migration should turn that around soon. Bottom fishing remains the more reliable bet: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both report strong fluke, black sea bass, and scup catches, with a few fluke pushing 10 pounds. Offshore, Booked Off Charters and Snug Harbor Marina are finding good recreational bluefin tuna action.
Full moon tides put Hawaii's blue-water pelagics in play
No buoy or gauge feeds returned data for the Hawaiian Islands this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel sources filed a current on-the-water report specific to Hawaii — Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper and moon/tide calendar resource, is in the feed but didn't post a fresh bite update. So this report leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh testimony: late August sits inside Hawaii's peak warm-water pelagic window, when yellowfin tuna (ahi), mahimahi, and wahoo (ono) are typically most active around current lines, FAD buoys, and temperature breaks, with blue marlin also in range offshore. Tonight's full moon should sharpen tidal exchange around channels and points, which can concentrate bait and predators around structure for a night or two. Treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed current activity — always confirm with a local source before planning a trip.
Smallmouth Bite Holds Steady on Maine's Big Rivers as Summer Wanes
Smallmouth bass are still the headline act on New England's big rivers as August winds down, with The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reporting steady smallmouth action through the Merrimack's Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and into New Hampshire's Hooksett section, plus largemouth bass keying on Senkos and topwater in Massachusetts ponds. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Kennebec or Penobscot corridor today, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up a dedicated Kennebec or Penobscot river report, so we're grounding this update in regional trend rather than a local catch. Expect that same pattern to hold on Maine's larger rivers: smallmouth working current seams and rocky structure as baitfish schools tighten up, with brook trout and landlocked salmon sliding into cooler, deeper water as afternoon temperatures linger. Tonight's full moon should push some of that activity into low-light and overnight windows.
Hiwassee, Caney Fork trout bite rides the generation schedule
No angler reports came in this cycle naming the Hiwassee or Caney Fork specifically, so this update is built on how these Tennessee tailwaters typically fish in late August. Both rivers stay fishable through summer heat only because of dam releases — cold bottom-draw water pushed downstream during generation is what keeps rainbow and brown trout comfortable when a freestone stream this far south would already be too warm. The pattern to plan around is simple: fish tighten up and feed hardest during and right after a generation pulse, then go quiet and spooky in the low, clear water between releases. Smallmouth bass holding in the warmer stretches, particularly lower Caney Fork, should stay active independent of the trout-focused generation window. With tonight's full moon adding overnight light, some of the usual sharp dawn window may soften as fish feed intermittently through the night instead. Standard approach for both rivers right now is nymphing or small streamers timed to the water release.